P
US6920947B2ExpiredUtilityPatentIndex 96

Exercise mode for a personal transporter device

Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LPPriority: Jun 12, 2002Filed: Jun 11, 2003Granted: Jul 26, 2005
Est. expiryJun 12, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:KAMEN DEAN LHEINZMANN JOHN DAVIDSACHS JASON M
A61G 5/04B62K 13/00A63C 5/04A63C 17/01A63C 17/08B62K 11/007A63C 17/12Y02T10/70B60L 50/51A63C 17/04
96
PatentIndex Score
61
Cited by
12
References
36
Claims

Abstract

A personal transporter device and corresponding method of operation are given that utilize an exercise mode. A transporter assembly includes a platform, a ground-contacting module, and a motorized drive. The platform supports a user. The ground-contacting module is connected to the platform. The motorized drive powers the ground-contacting module to drive the assembly in a selected direction over an underlying surface. A controller is coupled to and controlling the motorized drive, and also has an exercise mode for opposing a user-provided human power input with a selected level of resistance. When the device is a dynamically stabilized transporter, the controller also controls the motorized drive so as to dynamically stabilize the transporter assembly.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. A dynamically stabilized personal transporter device comprising:
 a dynamically stabilized transporter assembly including: 
 (i) a platform for supporting a user;  
 (ii) a ground-contacting module connected to the platform; and  
 (iii) a motorized drive for powering the ground-contacting module to drive the assembly in a selected direction over an underlying surface; and  
 (iv) a controller coupled to and controlling the motorized drive so as to dynamically stabilize the transporter assembly, and having an exercise mode for opposing a user-provided human power input with a selected level of resistance.  
 
 
   
   
     2. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling mechanism for coupling the transporter assembly to a separate exercise device, wherein operation of the controller in exercise mode involves opposing a user-provided human power input to the separate exercise device with a selected level of resistance provided by the motorized drive of the personal transporter.  
 
   
   
     3. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user to provide the human power input by causing movement of the transporter assembly relative to the underlying surface. 
   
   
     4. A personal transporter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user to push from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly. 
   
   
     5. A personal transporter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user to pull from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly. 
   
   
     6. A personal transporter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user on the platform to move the transporter assembly alternately in opposing directions so that the transporter assembly maintains a relatively fixed position on the underlying surface. 
   
   
     7. A personal transporter device according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller uses a position term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position. 
   
   
     8. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein a constant current is maintained to the motorized drive. 
   
   
     9. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein a constant voltage is maintained to the motorized drive. 
   
   
     10. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller provides a resistance such that the human power input is required to be a specified function of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface. 
   
   
     11. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller provides a resistance such that the human power input is required to be a specified function of the square of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface. 
   
   
     12. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the human power input acts to recharge a personal transporter device power source. 
   
   
     13. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the human power input is converted into heat. 
   
   
     14. A personal transporter device according to  claim 13 , wherein the motorized drive opposes the human power input. 
   
   
     15. A personal transporter device according to  claim 13 , wherein a component dissipates the heat. 
   
   
     16. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user seat connected to the platform; and  
 a pedal arrangement for a seated user to provide the human power input.  
 
   
   
     17. A personal transporter device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user display for providing to the user an indication of at least one of a present state of a transporter device power source, a rate of change of the present state of the power source, a total amount of calories expended by the user, and a present rate of calories being expended by the user.  
 
   
   
     18. A method of using a dynamically stabilized personal transporter device comprising:
 providing a dynamically stabilized transporter assembly including: 
 (i) a platform for supporting a user,  
 (ii) a ground-contacting module connected to the platform, and  
 (iii) a motorized drive for powering the ground-contacting module to drive the assembly in a selected direction over an underlying surface;  
 
 controlling the motorized drive so as to dynamically stabilize the transporter assembly using a controller having an exercise mode for opposing a user-provided human power input with a selected level of resistance.  
 
   
   
     19. A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing to the user an indication of at least one of a present state of a transporter device power source, a rate of change of the present state of the power source, a total amount of calories expended by the user, and a present rate of calories being expended by the user.  
 
   
   
     20. A method according to claim further comprising:
 coupling the transporter assembly to a separate exercise device, and  
 wherein controlling the motorized drive in exercise mode involves opposing a user-provided human power input to the separate exercise device with a selected level of resistance provided by the motorized drive of the personal transporter.  
 
   
   
     21. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user to provide the human power input by causing movement of the transporter assembly relative to the underlying surface. 
   
   
     22. A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user to push from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly. 
   
   
     23. A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user to pull from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly. 
   
   
     24. A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the exercise mode allows the user on the platform to move the transporter assembly alternately in opposing directions so that the transporter assembly maintains a relatively fixed position on the underlying surface. 
   
   
     25. A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller uses a position term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position. 
   
   
     26. A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller uses a pitch damping term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position. 
   
   
     27. A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller uses a wheel damping term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position. 
   
   
     28. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein powering the ground-contacting module includes maintaining a constant current from a transporter power source. 
   
   
     29. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein powering the ground-contacting module includes maintaining a constant voltage from a transporter power source. 
   
   
     30. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the human power input is required to be a specified function of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface. 
   
   
     31. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the human power input is required to be a specified function of the square of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface. 
   
   
     32. A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the human power input acts to recharge a transporter device power source. 
   
   
     33. A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 converting the human power input into heat.  
 
   
   
     34. A method according to  claim 33 , wherein the motorized drive opposes the human power input. 
   
   
     35. A method according to  claim 33 , wherein a resistor dissipates the heat. 
   
   
     36. A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a user seat connected to the platform; and  
 providing the human power input from a seated user operating a pedal arrangement.

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